Use brother for a male sibling who shares at least one parent.
Use brother for a male sibling who shares at least one parent.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| My brothers is coming tomorrow. | My brother is coming tomorrow. |
| She called me her brother‑in‑law. | She called me her brother. |
| The brother are playing in the yard. | The brothers are playing in the yard. |
Use brother for a monk or a member of a religious order.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The brother gave the sermon. | The monk gave the sermon. |
| She is a brother in the church. | She is a nun in the church. |
| Brother John is a lay volunteer. | Brother John is a monk. |
Use brother for a male member of a college fraternity.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She is my brother in the sorority. | She is my sister in the sorority. |
| He is my brother, but not in a fraternity. | He is my fraternity brother. |
| The brother organized a charity event. | The brothers organized a charity event. |
Use brother as a casual way to address a male peer, especially in African‑American speech.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Hey brother, could you pass the salt? | Hey sister, could you pass the salt? |
| Dear brother, I write to inform you... | Dear Sir, I write to inform you... |
| Brother, I need your help with the report. | Sir, I need your help with the report. |
Use brother as a verb to mean treating someone like a brother.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She brothered me yesterday. | She treated me like a brother yesterday. |
| I will brother you tomorrow. | I will treat you like a brother tomorrow. |
| They brothered each other. | They regarded each other as brothers. |
Use brother for a male sibling, a monk, a fraternity member, an informal address, or as a verb meaning to treat someone like a brother.
The third‑person singular is rarely used, and the word is often confused with sister, nun, or applied in the wrong context.
From Old English brōþor, related to Proto‑Germanic *brothar and ultimately to the Proto‑Indo‑European root *bʰréh₂tēr meaning ‘brother’.
What does brother mean as a family term?
Brother refers to a male sibling who shares at least one parent with another person.
How is brother used in religious contexts?
Brother is the title for a monk or a member of a religious order who has taken vows.
Can brother refer to a college fraternity member?
Yes, brother denotes a male student who belongs to a college fraternity.
Is it correct to call a male friend brother in casual speech?
In African‑American informal speech, brother is a common way to address a male peer.
How do you use brother as a verb?
When used as a verb, brother means to treat someone as if they were a brother.
What is the plural form of brother?
The plural of brother is brothers.
What are common mistakes when using brother?
Common errors include dropping the -s in the third‑person singular, confusing it with sister, or using it in formal contexts where sir is appropriate.
What is the origin of the word brother?
Brother comes from Old English brōþor, linked to Proto‑Germanic *brothar and the Indo‑European root *bʰréh₂tēr.